Chapter 55—The English Flag
One cry, bursting from the lips of the other four, succeeded their first stupefaction.
“Hatteras!” cried the doctor.
“Gone!” said Johnson and Bell.
“Lost!”
They looked about, but nothing was to be seen on the storm-tossed sea. Duke barked despairingly; he tried to spring into the water, but Bell managed to hold him.
“Take a place at the helm, Altamont,” said the doctor; “let us try everything to save the captain.”
Johnson and Bell took their seats. Altamont took the helm, and the launch came into wind again.
Johnson and Bell began to row vigorously; for an hour they remained at the scene of the accident. They sought earnestly, but in vain. The unfortunate Hatteras was lost in the storm!
Lost, so near the Pole, so near the end, of which he had had but a
